Strike: What BSU lecturers told me - Ortom

Written By Idoma Television on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 | 1:03:00 PM

Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom has declared that he has met
all the conditions put forward by striking lecturers under the auspices
of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU Chapter of Benue State
University, BSU in order to bring an end to their 4-month old strike.
The Governor disclosed this when he received final year medical
students of the Benue State University today at the Banquet Hall of
Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
Governor Ortom said after the payment of May salaries, he again
ordered the payment of an additional months salary in fulfilment of ASUU
conditions to call off their strike.
“We met with ASUU and other unions and they insisted that we must pay
their salaries, that was one of the things that made us to approach the
house of assembly to allow us borrow money to settle salaries.”

" (After payment of May salaries) ASUU came back to tell us that
unless we pay at least an additional month, that the money we paid for
May went on voice mail and so there’s no credit in the account, so
unless we pay the one month.”

“We decided that in order not to jeopardise the resumption, let us go
ahead and pay. Yesterday, the teaching Hospital told me they have
received alert and so, will call off their strike.”

“I’m waiting for ASUU, the chairman is yet to get back to me, but
that was the condition they gave me and I have met that condition
because I want the school to be open.”
“I’m looking forward that within the week, I should have a positive
response from ASUU. So, on our part we have met all the requirements
with the limited and scarce resources that we have.” He said with
optimism.

Governor Ortom said, even though some monies were given to the State
from the federal government, it wasn’t enough with the enormous wage
bill of the state which he placed at N3.7bn; N2.9bn salaries and N800m
overhead.

“In between, the federal government released money from LNG account
and the share of Benue state is N2.7bn, it’s not enough to pay one month
salary based on what we met on ground.”